Kirkland & Ellis reveals 56% NQ retention result

The London office of US outfit Kirkland & Ellis will retain just over half of its lawyers due to qualify this September.

From a trainee cohort of nine, the firm confirmed to Legal Cheek this afternoon that just five will start associate life at its Gherkin office (pictured top). This equates to a disappointing autumn retention figure of 56%, particularly when contrasted with Kirkland’s perfect 100% retention score from this time last year.

Legal Cheek understands that the low retention figure is a result of NQs being unable to qualify into their department of choice. Beyond confirmation of the 56% score, Kirkland has declined to comment.

Legal Cheek’s Most List shows that Kirkland’s five new lawyers are set to become some of the highest paid in the City.

Off the back of last year’s MoneyLaw movement in the US, a host of firms, including Kirkland, raised US year one associate pay to $180,000. Opting to chuck the same rises at its London lot, Kirkland’s NQs saw their dollar-tied salaries rise to a high of £147,000. Today, it’s £137,000 based on current exchange rates. First year trainees are on £46,000, rising to £50,000 in year two.

Remuneration aside, Kirkland experienced mixed fortunes in Legal Cheek’s 2016 Trainee & Junior Lawyer Survey. It scored A*s for quality of work, office and perks, and a mixed bag of As and Bs for categories including canteen, peer support and social life. The firm went on to scoop the gong for ‘Most Impressive Law Firm Office’ at our awards ceremony earlier this year.

Anonymous

Anonymous

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 5:35pm

To those above warning people off KE, could you actually give reasons? From my perspective it seems the same as any other firm where you’d get beasted but just get paid more.

I ask because I’ve received emails from recruiters about vacancies there, and I might be tempted to put my CV.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 5:45pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 5:56pm

so do the Jones Day ones

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 5:56pm

WHERE IS FORMER Former Kirkland Trainee

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Former Kirkland Trainee

Jul 27 2017 6:01pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Former Kirkland Trainee

Jul 27 2017 6:05pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Jones Day equity partner

Jul 27 2017 7:08pm

Noyce… I gotta try that this year.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 8:18pm

fuck I missed that

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L&W NQ

Jul 27 2017 6:14pm

I am glad I left and joined L&W. Avoid K&E like the plague!

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 6:20pm

Okay so none of the reasons relate to the actual work. Skip the scandalous bit and tell us why they would break balls

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 6:26pm

Is there any other reason why we should avoid Kirkland?

Are the partners especially obnoxious, or is it just a few ‘bad eggs’ like most firms?

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 6:53pm

It seems to attract pyschopathic bellends.

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Linklaters Partner

Jul 27 2017 6:58pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 7:06pm

Where do I sign?

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Former K&E trainee

Jul 27 2017 7:19pm

Looks like LC got a terse call from K&E and began deleting comments…

Well done Tommy.

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Trainee in Hell

Jul 27 2017 8:45pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 8:50pm

Name dropping how scandalous

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 8:49pm

means I get a chance

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 8:57pm

2 comments about partners were deleted

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Trainee in Hell

Jul 27 2017 9:02pm

There we go comments are back.

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Truth News

Jul 27 2017 9:17pm

Thomas Connelly U fat twat stop deleting comments

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 9:36pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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K&E NQ slave

Jul 27 2017 9:25pm

Top bantz. Keep ’em coming, I’m working late so I might as well be kept entertained.

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K&E NQ slave

Jul 27 2017 9:29pm

YOU CANNOT SILENCE US ALL!!!

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 9:37pm

What did they say

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 9:37pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

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Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 9:39pm

Inb4 LC shuts down comments section in 3…2…1…

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Kirkland Associate

Jul 29 2017 8:35am

There are a lot of bitter ex K&E people about. The truth is that it’s a super demanding place to work and it takes a certain personality type but on the flip side you get great experience, there are way better partnership prospects than most US firms and you get paid a fortune, so it’s a trade-off.